Two stories set in 1950, when Simon Templar was still proving that a wartime interlude of at least semi-respectable endeavour had not permanently impaired his piratical propensities. “The Midas Double”, in which the Saint’s assistance is called upon by a Greek shipping magnate who is being brilliant impersonator, is a convolution of false identities and double-dealing. And hard-hitting action is promised when he is enlisted to infiltrate a gang of ruthless mercenary commandos in “The Pawn Gambit”. In this duet of hitherto unrecorded adventures the Saint shows himself at his reckless and impudent best.

The indomitable Simon Templar, better known as “the Saint,” is in Covers for a boat race when he is accosted by a damsel in distress (his favorite kind of damsel). Arabella Tatenor’s husband, Charles, is killed when his boat the Candecour explodes during the race, and she is shocked to learn that he was flat broke — the only thing he has to leave her besides debts is the Phoenix, his half-million-dollar yacht, which is docked in France. Simon does a bit of checking and finds that Charles seems to have been the accomplice in the robbery of five million dollar’s worth of gold bullion some years ago. Before he has time to warn Arabella she has gone to France and unknowingly meets up with some...